In the early hours of the morning, snow continued to fall outside.

Inside, a floor heater warmed the room, making it bearable despite the cold outside.

Today, the army was setting out for battle, so the servants in the mansion were awake earlier than usual.

Faint sounds of their movements could already be heard in the courtyard.

Qin Zhen lowered her head as she fastened the dragon-scale clasps on Chu Chengji’s armor.

Feeling tired, she rubbed her eyes with her hand.

She hadn’t done her hair yet, with her long hair hanging loose.

She wore only a light pink undershirt, with a slightly open neckline revealing faint red marks where the collarbones intersected.

Chu Chengji lowered his gaze and softly called out, “Ah Zhen.”

“Hmm?”

Qin Zhen lifted her head after fastening the clasps, and unexpectedly, her lips were met with a gentle warmth.

This kiss was brief, but Chu Chengji brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You can sleep a bit longer. It’s not the first time I’ve gone to war. There’s no need for you to see me off.”

He kissed her forehead again. “Just wait for my safe return.”

Qin Zhen hadn’t felt much sorrow at the parting, but his words suddenly stirred up a lot of reluctance in her heart.

She hugged his lean waist tightly, despite the hard armor. “Okay, I’ll guard Jianghuai for you. Come back safely.”

In these busy days, all the suppressed feelings of separation surged up at this moment.

Chu Chengji stretched out his arm and held her tightly, closing his eyes to deeply inhale her scent. “Ah Zhen, when the world settles down, will you give me a child?”

He had lived a solitary life in the past, but this time, he wanted completeness with her.

Qin Zhen leaned her cheek against his chest armor. “…I told you not to take medicine last night.”

Chu Chengji chuckled, but his tone carried a hint of sigh. “Silly girl.”

The arm wrapped around her back seemed to exert a thousand pounds of force, as if he wanted to merge her into his own blood and bones.

A servant called softly from outside, “Your Highness, Lord Song and General Lin are waiting outside the mansion. They respectfully request your presence at the training ground to raise the flags!”

Qin Zhen raised her hand and gently patted his back. “Go ahead, don’t delay.”

Chu Chengji released his arm, lowered his gaze to look at her for a moment, then suddenly bent down and fiercely kissed her again, rough and savage, almost making Qin Zhen’s tongue numb.

This kiss came suddenly and ended just as abruptly.

Chu Chengji’s rough palms cradled Qin Zhen’s fair face, lowering his head to meet her eyes. “I’m leaving.”

He turned and strode out of the room.

As the sky began to brighten, Qin Zhen took a few steps after him, leaning against the door frame and watching his tall figure gradually disappear into the snowstorm, her eyes slightly red.

Chu Chengji never looked back, perhaps afraid she would be reluctant, or perhaps afraid to see his own reluctance reflected in her eyes.

Bai Lu fetched a thick cloak for Qin Zhen and draped it over her shoulders. “Madam, don’t catch a cold.”

Qin Zhen turned around. “Help me with my grooming. We’re going to see off the army at the North Gate.”

At the third hour of the morning, Qin Zhen and a group of officials, including Song Heqing, ascended the North Tower.

The daylight was bleak, and the wind and snow were fierce.

The accumulated snow on the official road had been trampled into muddy slush.

The northern expedition army snaked along the winding road, and the leading troops were already out of sight, leaving only the raised banners visible in the distance.

After seeing off the army, Qin Zhen and the officials returned to discuss the affairs of the entire Jianghuai and southern regions.

Although the world had not yet been unified, the nascent Chu regime had already formed the structure of six ministries.

Song Heqing had worked hard and earned Qin Zhen’s and Chu Chengji’s trust.

In the eyes of all Chu officials, he was second only to the prime minister.

Qin Jian had a straightforward personality and was skilled in writing.

After Qin Zhen reestablished the Imperial Censorate, she entrusted its affairs to him.

The officials in the Imperial Censorate were all tough and strong-willed individuals.

After all, their duty was to supervise officials and uphold discipline.

If someone who was too diplomatic held this position, the Imperial Censorate would become ineffective.

Qin Jian was uncompromising, and with Qin Zheng behind him, none of the officials dared to cross him.

They all worked diligently, fearing that Qin Jian might catch any mistakes and meticulously wrote down extensive reports filled with citations to present to Qin Zheng.

Although Qin Zheng, who had just taken over the affairs of Jianghuai and the southern regions, felt dizzy from reading the piled-up documents every day, she quickly realized that the ministers below her were all very ambitious and competent.

They handled their duties more and more skillfully, which greatly satisfied her.

Even Song Heqing couldn’t help but marvel, saying that the ministers who followed Her Highness in conquering the land were different.

Only Qin Jian remained gloomy every day, keeping a close eye on all the officials.

Previously, when he worked with Song Heqing, he faced many challenges.

After taking over the Imperial Censorate, he was eager to make some achievements.

However, all the officials in Jianghuai exhausted all their efforts, and he couldn’t find any faults to report.

He could only keep a closer watch on the officials, making them nervous and afraid to focus on their duties.

Qin Zhen was unaware of this.

In the turmoil between Qin Jian and the officials, Jianghuai and the southern regions were being developed far beyond Qin Zheng’s expectations.

As for the war with the Northern Barbarians, it was unclear how long it would last.

The two years of internal turmoil in Great Chu had made life unbearable for the people.

Although the central and southern regions were now relatively stable, if they wanted to supply the northern army, they had to recover as quickly as possible.

Qin Zheng personally led the Ministry of Works to urgently repair the Fish Mouth Weir Dam in the harsh winter.

In addition, she also promulgated new policies and decrees in various prefectures along the river, reducing taxes and promoting agriculture and sericulture.

In the Northern Territory, Chu Chengji left An Yuanqing, Dong Cheng, and others to guard Jianghuai while he himself led Wang Biao, Zhao Kui, and other brave generals northward.

Upon receiving the news, the Marquis of Lianqin personally went outside the city gates to greet Chu Chengji’s army upon their arrival in Beiting.

The Marquis of Lianqin earned his title through battles on the battlefield, and in the entire Great Chu, when it came to leading troops in war, he considered himself second to none, and no one dared to claim otherwise.

In terms of discerning people, the Marquis of Lianqin considered himself to have some skill.

When the former Chu forces rapidly gained momentum in the Jianghuai region, even before Chu Chengji approached him, the Marquis had already taken notice of this emerging force.

At that time, Chu Chengji only occupied a city in Qingzhou.

Whether it was Li Xin or the Prince of Huaiyang, it seemed they could easily extinguish this spark.

However, no one expected that Li Xin’s forces would repeatedly suffer defeats at the hands of Chu Chengji, allowing this force from former Chu to grow into a towering tree in the midst of adversity.

The splendid battles won by Chu Chengji had already spread widely among the people, and even the Marquis of Lianqin had heard of them.

The former infamous Crown Prince had suddenly become proficient in both civil and martial matters, as valiant as the founding emperor of the Chu Dynasty, Emperor Wu Jia.

The Marquis of Lianqin had also harbored suspicions about this.

When Beiting faced difficulties, the Lin siblings had come to aid successively.

After seeing Lin Yao’s martial arts skills, the Marquis of Lianqin speculated that Chu Chengji’s swift stabilization and occupation of the south were likely greatly aided by this General Lin.

Throughout history, wise rulers often had brave generals under their command, but they feared that one day, the achievements of these generals might lead to their suspicions and uncertainties.

The Marquis of Lianqin admired Lin Yao and had subtly given him some advice.

However, whether Lin Yao was too straightforward to understand or understood but didn’t take his words seriously, the Marquis of Lianqin feared that Lin Yao might misunderstand and think he was trying to sow discord between him and Great Chu, so he refrained from saying more.

Upon personally welcoming Chu Chengji, the Marquis of Lianqin saw from afar the tall man in the Qilin armor on horseback.

He couldn’t help but sigh in amazement at the talented individuals within the former Chu army.

Lin Yao was already exceptional, and this leading young general was even more extraordinary.

These young talents were truly formidable.

As the army approached, the Marquis of Lianqin, after scanning the Chu army and not finding any accompanying horse carriages, hesitated and turned his gaze back to the man in the Qilin armor and golden crown.

Qilin armor, golden crown… Could this young general leading the troops be the Crown Prince of Chu?

Having guarded Beiting for more than ten years without returning to Bianjing, the Marquis of Lianqin had no idea what the Crown Prince looked like.

While he was still in shock and doubt, Lin Yao, who came out of the city to greet them together, urged his horse forward. “I respectfully welcome His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!”

This proclamation confirmed Chu Chengji’s identity.

After the Marquis of Lianqin’s initial surprise, he realized that Lin Yao hadn’t taken his previous advice to heart.

This Crown Prince of Chu was not only capable of governing the country but also capable of military leadership, akin to the ancient sage kings.

Could it be… that the prophecy from the Qintian Observatory all those years ago was coming true?

In the midst of a whirlwind of emotions, the Marquis of Lianqin couldn’t help but feel relieved.

If Great Chu could have such a capable ruler, the people of the world would surely suffer less.

He took a few steps forward and paid his respects. “I pay my respects to Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

Chu Chengji dismounted and personally helped the Marquis of Lianqin up. “Marquis, you are injured and need not be so formal.”

However, the Marquis of Lianqin refused to get up. “Beiting has faced difficulties several times, and every time, Your Royal Highness has sent troops to help. Such great kindness, Beiting will never forget…”

Chu Chengji interrupted him, “Marquis, you are mistaken. Beiting is a gateway to our Great Chu. When Great Chu was in chaos, only you, Marquis, held Qiangliuguan and defended against foreign enemies. It is Great Chu and I who owe you a debt of gratitude.”

The Marquis of Lianqin thanked him, knowing that regardless of when the troops were sent to help, the situation in Jianghuai was still dire.

However, Chu Chengji’s words did not regard him holding Beiting as the duty of a loyal subject, but instead indicated that both he and Great Chu owed Beiting a favor.

Having guarded the pass for more than a decade, the Marquis of Lianqin had almost shed tears today because of the words of his monarch: “By returning peace to the world, Your Highness has repaid this world a peaceful river and sea. My efforts at this pass have not been in vain.”

Chu Chengji patted the Marquis of Lianqin on the shoulder, conveying everything through silent understanding.

After the army entered the city, before the welcoming banquet could even be set up,

Chu Chengji had the Marquis of Lianqin arrange for the battles between Beiting and the Northern Barbarians to be replayed on the sand table.

He then led his generals to observe and study the tactics and strategies of the Northern Barbarians.

Knowing oneself and knowing the enemy ensures victory in a hundred battles.

When Lin Zhao struck the Prince of the Northern Barbarians from his horse, the wound extended from his left shoulder to his chest, breaking several ribs and injuring his internal organs.

He had to rest in bed for half a month before he could even get up.

Since being injured, Lin Zhao had only cried twice.

The first time was when he woke up from unconsciousness after being seriously injured and learned that Madam Wang had died protecting him.

The other time was when Lin Yao came to Qiangliuguan and saw his older brother.

Lin Zhao cried on his shoulder.

Upon learning that Wang Biao had come to Qiangliuguan with Chu Chengji, Lin Zhao initially wanted to go out of the city with Lin Yao to greet the Chu army.

However, her injuries had not yet healed, and she couldn’t even ride a horse.

Lin Yao told her to stay obediently inside the city, saying she could see Wang Biao at the welcoming banquet.

To Lin Zhao, Wang Biao was also like a half-brother, and sometimes he even indulged her more than Lin Yao did.

Madam Wang died to save her, causing Lin Zhao to feel more guilty than anyone else, but what made her feel most uncomfortable was Wang Biao, who had lost his mother.

When Lin Zhao learned that the welcoming banquet had been delayed and that Chu Chengji and his generals were replaying the battles against the Northern Barbarians on the sand table, she went back to the military camp.

The guards outside the central military tent were strict, and Lin Zhao, as a military officer, could have entered to watch the battle.

However, since she arrived late and would have had to inform the guards to let her in, she came to find Wang Biao, so she decided not to inform the guards and instead waited outside the tent while the meeting was in progress.

The snow in the northern region was much heavier than in Jianghuai and Bianjing.

The wind howled, making it painful on the face, and the snow was not the picturesque fine snow but fell like scattered salt.

Lin Zhao’s hands and feet were already frozen stiff after standing for a while.

She rubbed her hands and breathed on them near her mouth.

When Cen Daoxi lifted the tent curtain to have the soldiers send more charcoal, this was the scene he saw.

In the past, he probably wouldn’t have bothered.

This girl was quite fierce.

Initially, she mistook him for Qin Jian and praised him for his poetry.

When Cen Daoxi realized she had even misquoted his own poems, he thought she was a girl trying to climb the social ladder.

With his character of not giving face to anyone, he naturally mocked her a bit.

However, instead of being made to cry by his mockery, the girl grabbed his collar and threw him into the lotus pond as he was about to leave.

Cen Daoxi was not good at swimming and almost lost his life in the lotus pond.

But after hearing the girl’s fierce retort, he realized he had misunderstood her.

Since he was the one who had made the mistake first, it was only right for him to apologize.

Cen Daoxi was very clear about himself; he was a person who would not get up early unless there was a benefit to be gained.

The girl repeatedly refused his apology, and she was close to the Crown Princess.

Cen Daoxi also felt quite a headache.

Even the Crown Princess, who didn’t know the situation, admonished him for protecting the girl.

If she knew he had misunderstood the girl and even mocked her, his impression of himself might change drastically.

Cen Daoxi didn’t want to ruin his ambitions because of such a misunderstanding.

He spent some time inquiring about the girl’s habits and learned that she was involved in organizing the Women’s Army, so he sent over some ingenious plans about forming the Women’s Army, knowing that she would appreciate them.

At that time, he was just watching for fun, wanting to see how far the girl could go with the Women’s Army.

When Lin Zhao was appointed as a Captain, Cen Daoxi was surprised but not surprised.

After all, with the strong support of the Crown Princess, it was not difficult for her to reach this point.

Later, when the Women’s Army marched north, he became interested.

The Crown Prince and his wife were wise, and the Crown Princess was even more intent on supporting the Women’s Army.

Perhaps in this chaotic world, a Women’s Army that could be recorded in history might really emerge?

Later, when news of the fierce battle in Beiting reached the heartland of the Central Plains, and the deeds of the Women’s Army risking their lives on the battlefield, including the female general saving the Marquis of Lianqin, were turned into popular operas.

The Women’s Army could indeed be recorded in history based solely on this battle.

Cen Daoxi followed Lin Yao northward and naturally learned on the way that it was Lin Zhao who saved the Marquis of Lianqin.

When Lin Yao inquired about Lin Zhao’s injuries from the army doctor upon arrival at Beiting, the doctor said that if even one broken rib had pierced an organ, she wouldn’t have survived.

Fortunately, although many ribs were broken, none had damaged any vital organs.

When Cen Daoxi went to visit Lin Zhao, he saw those wild eyes of hers and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

She was indeed that unruly little leopard.

He left to avoid suspicion, allowing the siblings to speak privately.

Unfortunately, Marquis Lianqin came over, so Cen Daoxi had to call Lin Yao out to meet him.

It was only when he turned back that he saw that little leopard, crying on her brother’s shoulder with swollen eyes.

At that moment, Cen Daoxi inexplicably thought: She can cry too?

Then he laughed at himself.

After all, she was just a little girl.

Perhaps Lin Zhao’s tearful breakdown in front of Lin Yao had left too deep an impression on Cen Daoxi.

Now, seeing Lin Zhao stamping her feet and breathing on her hands in the snow, he couldn’t help but think of her swollen eyes from crying.

After instructing the soldiers to fetch more charcoal, Cen Daoxi didn’t immediately return to the military tent.

Instead, he walked over and asked, “Is Captain Lin waiting for General Lin?”

When Lin Zhao saw it was Cen Daoxi, although her expression wasn’t too good, she didn’t show hostility towards him anymore, hesitantly nodding.

Cen Daoxi said, “It’s probably going to be a while before they finish discussing inside. It’s freezing outside. Why don’t you go back and wait?”

After waiting for so long, waiting for a little while longer wouldn’t make much difference.

Lin Zhao shook her head. “Thank you, but I’ll wait here for my brother.”

Cen Daoxi noticed her stubbornness, which seemed to manifest in every aspect.

Asking these one or two questions was the least he could do.

He turned to go back to the main tent, but just as he was about to leave, a cold wind blew, and Lin Zhao suddenly suppressed a cough behind him.

Turning back to look at the girl with a pale face, Cen Daoxi involuntarily furrowed his brows. “The Crown Prince is analyzing the battles where the Northern Barbarians attacked the city. Captain Lin is also a military officer. You can enter the central military tent and watch the battle together.”

Lin Zhao replied somewhat unnaturally, “I arrived late.”

If one arrived late, they needed to be announced before entering.

Moreover, she was the commander of the Women’s Army, so Lin Zhao didn’t want to leave such an impression on the other generals.

Cen Daoxi smiled. “Captain Lin, come with me into the tent.”

Entering with him meant there was no need for the guards at the door to announce her.

Lin Zhao hesitated for a moment, then followed his tall figure.